Girls basketball: New Bern's Davis to join Southwestern Christian College

New Bern’s Tomisha Davis, center, committed to play college basketball at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas. She was joined at her signing day by her mother Victoria Davis, father Bobby Brown and New Bern girls’ basketball coach Joe Davis.

Adam Thompson, Sun Journal

By Adam Thompson, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 04:28 PM.

Last summer, Tomisha Davis showcased her skills at the Junior Nationals Basketball Tournament in Washington, D.C.

New Bern’s senior was hoping to get noticed by a college coach.

Stan Giddings, women’s head basketball coach at Southwestern Christian College was impressed. He offered Davis a spot on the team.

Davis, a three-year varsity player at New Bern, committed to join the junior college in Terrell, Texas.

“I’m real dedicated. I know that if I don’t perform, I am coming back here with no scholarship or education,” Davis said.

Davis will play college basketball, near Dallas, more than 1,200 miles away from where she was raised. She has some family in Texas, but will be far away from her parents Victoria Davis and Bobby Brown.

Southwestern Christian College competes at the Division I level in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Last summer, Tomisha Davis showcased her skills at the Junior Nationals Basketball Tournament in Washington, D.C.

New Bern’s senior was hoping to get noticed by a college coach.

Stan Giddings, women’s head basketball coach at Southwestern Christian College was impressed. He offered Davis a spot on the team.

Davis, a three-year varsity player at New Bern, committed to join the junior college in Terrell, Texas.

“I’m real dedicated. I know that if I don’t perform, I am coming back here with no scholarship or education,” Davis said.

Davis will play college basketball, near Dallas, more than 1,200 miles away from where she was raised. She has some family in Texas, but will be far away from her parents Victoria Davis and Bobby Brown.

Southwestern Christian College competes at the Division I level in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

“I have to grow up real quick. (My parents) aren’t going to be there to yell at me every five seconds,” Davis said. “I have to do it myself.

“They are real family oriented. The coach is great. He is probably going to be like another dad. He is always in contact with his players.”

Davis was New Bern’s most consistent scorer this past season. She averaged more than 10 points and nearly eight rebounds per game.

Davis was not a very good shooter when she first joined the program. However, she worked on her outside shot to become lethal from 3-point range.

She was also tough to defend inside the paint.

“When we needed a basket, we went to her,” said New Bern girls’ basketball coach Joe Davis. “We could count on her getting to the rack. She was versatile for us.

“She became a 3-point shooter. A while back, we didn’t think she could shoot a 3-point shot. She knocked some threes down and meant a lot for us.”

Davis said the Southwestern Christian coaching staff is expecting her to, “just score.’

That’s an aspect of her game she’s improved on.

“I want to start so I am going out there to taking somebody’s spot and play,” she said. “It’s going to take a few games or so, but I should get there.

“They are going to get a hard-working player. If you need points, I can get it, and that’s what they want.”

Davis said the Rams had a rough season this past season. With the addition of herself, and other solid recruits, she hopes to help turn the program around.

It’s going to be difficult but I am grateful I am going to play college basketball.

“I just want to contribute to the team – score and rebound when I can. They are going to be bigger than me so I have to get tougher,” Davis said. “I still have stuff to improve on, but I will be ready. I need to work on my stamina, my shooting and get a tad bit quicker.”

Davis adjusted to four different high school basketball coaches and the varsity level. She’s looking forward to the opportunity of adjusting to a new level in a different state.